New Cat Boarding Guests: What to Expect
Everything You Need to Prepare for Your Cat's Stay at Chez Mieux
Leaving your cat somewhere new can come with a lot of questions.
What should you bring? What vaccinations are required? Can your cat stay on their normal food? What if they take medication? What happens at check-in? And perhaps most importantly, how can you help your cat feel comfortable while you're away?
At Chez Mieux Cat Kennel, we want both you and your cat to feel prepared before their stay begins.
Our family-owned, cat-only boarding facility in Natick, Massachusetts provides private accommodations, personalized care, daily enrichment, and attentive support for feline guests from throughout MetroWest and the Greater Boston area.
If this is your cat's first visit to Chez Mieux, use this page as your guide to preparing for their stay.
Already know your travel dates?
Booking Your Cat's Stay
Getting started is simple.
Step 1: Request Your Dates
Begin by contacting us with your preferred boarding dates and basic information about your cat.
Our booking form asks for information such as:
- • Your contact information
- • Your cat's name, age & gender
- • Preferred check-in & check-out date
- • Medical needs
- • Behavioral information
- • Personality and other helpful details
The more we know about your cat ahead of time, the better prepared we can be for their arrival.
Step 2: We'll Discuss Your Cat & Availability
A Chez Mieux caregiver will follow up to discuss availability and anything we should know about your cat.
This is the perfect time to tell us about things such as:
- • Feeding preferences
- • Medications & Medical conditions
- • Mobility limitations
- • Shy or anxious behavior
- • Special routines
- • Multiple cats boarding together
- • Anything your cat particularly loves—or definitely doesn't
Every cat is different, and those details help us personalize their experience.
Step 3: Prepare for Check-In
Once your stay is arranged, you'll want to gather vaccination records, food, medications, and any approved comfort item you plan to bring.
We'll confirm the details of your cat's arrival so you know what to expect.
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Ready to Plan Your Cat’s Stay?
Whether you’re ready to request a reservation, want to check availability, have questions about your cat’s care, or would like to learn more before booking, we’re happy to hear from you.
Cat Boarding Vaccination Requirements
Keeping Every Guest Healthy
Because Chez Mieux cares for multiple feline guests, current vaccination documentation is an important part of maintaining a healthy boarding environment.
Cats boarding with us must be current on:
Proof of vaccination from a licensed veterinarian is required.
Veterinary-documented titer results may also be accepted as an alternative in certain situations. If you're unsure whether your cat's records meet current requirements, please contact us before your reservation.
Don't leave vaccination records until the day you're scheduled to leave town. Checking them ahead of time gives you an opportunity to contact your veterinarian if updated documentation is needed.
For additional information about the steps we take to protect our guests, visit our Health & Safety page.
What to Bring for Cat Boarding
One of the most common questions first-time guests ask is: What should I pack for my cat?
Fortunately, your cat doesn't need a suitcase. Chez Mieux provides the everyday necessities for a comfortable stay, including accommodations, bedding, litter, housekeeping, and enrichment. There are a few things we recommend bringing from home.
Your Cat's Regular Food
Whenever possible, bring enough of your cat's usual food for their entire stay. Maintaining a familiar diet avoids introducing an unnecessary change while your cat is already adjusting to a different environment.
Please include clear instructions regarding:
- • Type of food & Portion size
- • Feeding frequency
- • Any special preparation or Refrigeration requirements
- • Dietary restrictions & Food allergies
- • Any unusual eating habits we should know about
Chez Mieux can provide food as a backup when needed, but continuing your cat's normal diet is generally preferable.
Medications
If your cat takes medication, bring enough for the entire stay along with clear administration instructions.
Whenever possible, medications should be provided in their original packaging with appropriate labeling.
Please make sure we understand:
- • Medication name & Dosage
- • Frequency & Administration method
- • Timing requirements
- • Relevant veterinary instructions
Medication administration fees may apply depending on the care required. See our current boarding and medication rates for additional information.
Vaccination Records
Please make sure we have documentation showing that your cat meets current vaccination requirements.
Having these records ready before arrival helps avoid unnecessary delays at check-in.
One Familiar Comfort Item
A familiar scent can sometimes help make a temporary environment feel a little more recognizable.
You may want to bring one small item from home, such as:
- • A favorite blanket or pillowcase
- • A familiar toy
- • A T-shirt or sweatshirt carrying your scent
If you're bringing something specifically for its familiar smell, don't wash it immediately beforehand. Please avoid bringing anything valuable or irreplaceable.
What You Don't Need to Bring
Keeping packing simple makes arrival easier.
Chez Mieux provides the basic items your cat will need during their stay, including comfortable bedding and litter. You generally do not need to bring an entire bed, litter box, bowls, a large collection of toys, or multiple belongings from home.
If your cat uses a specific type of litter or has another important preference, however, let us know. Our standard litter works well for most guests, but families may provide their cat's preferred litter for the duration of the stay if necessary.
Tell Us About Your Cat's Personality
Your cat is more than the information on their veterinary record.
We want to know who they are.
Are they outgoing and affectionate? Do they hide whenever someone rings the doorbell? Are they happiest playing with wand toys? Do they love being brushed? Are they particular about being touched? Do they warm up slowly to new people? Are they a senior who prefers a quieter pace?
These details matter.
Chez Mieux welcomes cats with many different personalities, including shy, social, energetic, independent, senior, and special-needs guests.
Our caregivers take time to get to know each cat and adapt interactions according to their comfort level. A confident guest might be interested in attention and play soon after settling in. A cautious guest may need more time.
We don't expect every cat to behave the same way simply because they're boarding.
Learn more about our private condos, enrichment, and daily care.
Feeding During Your Cat's Stay
Keeping your cat's regular routine whenever practical is an important part of personalized boarding care.
Our caregivers follow the feeding instructions you provide.
Before arrival, make sure we know about:
- • Regular feeding times & Portion sizes
- • Wet versus dry food
- • Prescription diets
- • Food sensitivities
- • Refrigerated food & Supplements
- • Eating habits & changes in appetite
If your cat is particularly selective about food, please tell us.
Our caregivers also monitor guests throughout their stays and pay attention to changes in appetite, behavior, activity, and overall well-being.
Medications & Additional Care
Does Your Cat Take Medication?
Please don't assume that taking regular medication automatically prevents your cat from boarding.
Chez Mieux can accommodate many common medication routines and certain additional care needs.
Depending on your cat's requirements, available services may include:
- • Oral medications
- • Topical treatments
- • Inhalers
- • Nebulizers
- • Subcutaneous injections
- • Subcutaneous fluids
- • Certain wound-care needs
Our current health procedures include maintaining medication records and using a double-check system to help ensure scheduled doses are administered correctly.
Some medication and additional-care services carry an added fee. Please discuss all medical requirements with us before booking so we can determine whether we can appropriately accommodate your cat's particular needs.
Check-In & Check-Out
Arrivals and departures are an important transition for both cats and their humans.
Your specific check-in and check-out arrangements will be confirmed as part of the reservation process.
When dropping off your cat, make sure you have provided all requested information and brought the items needed for their stay.
This is also your opportunity to communicate any last-minute information, such as:
- • A recent change in appetite
- • A medication update or new veterinary instruction
- • A behavior change or recent illness
- • Anything else that may affect your cat's care
Please don't hesitate to share details that might seem minor. Sometimes small changes are useful for our caregivers to know.
At pickup, payment for the stay is due in full unless other arrangements have been made.
Payment & Deposits
For most stays, Chez Mieux does not require a deposit for reservations shorter than 21 days.
For stays of 21 days or longer, a 50% deposit is currently required.
Payment in full is due at pickup.
Accepted payment methods currently include:
Boarding rates depend on the number of cats, accommodation arrangement, length of stay, and any additional care your cat requires.
Visiting Chez Mieux Before Your Cat's Stay
Want to see the facility before making a decision? You're welcome to contact us about arranging a personal tour.
Visiting beforehand can be especially helpful for first-time boarding families who want to see the accommodations and understand where their cat will be staying.
Chez Mieux is located at:
81 Speen Street, Floor 2
Natick, MA 01760
Our current office hours are:
Monday–Friday: 9:30 AM–6:30 PM
Saturday: 9:30 AM–6:00 PM
Sunday: 11:30 AM–12:30 PM & 2:30 PM–6:30 PM
Helping Your Cat Prepare for Boarding
Keep Food Familiar
Avoid making unnecessary diet changes immediately before boarding whenever possible.
Keep Their Carrier Accessible
If your cat normally sees their carrier only immediately before a vet visit, consider leaving it accessible at home beforehand with bedding or treats inside.
Provide Accurate Information
Tell us about your cat's normal behavior so we have a baseline for comparison. If your normally social cat tends to hide when stressed, that's helpful to know. If your normally quiet cat suddenly becomes extremely vocal, that's helpful too.
Keep Goodbyes Calm
Your cat doesn't need an elaborate send-off. A calm arrival allows our caregivers to begin helping them settle into their new surroundings.
Bring Something Familiar
One small item carrying familiar household scents may provide additional comfort.
Most importantly, give us the information we need to understand your cat as an individual.
Your New Guest Checklist
Before your cat arrives, make sure you have:
- ✓Current FVRCP vaccination documentation
- ✓Current Rabies vaccination documentation
- ✓Enough of your cat's regular food
- ✓Clear feeding instructions
- ✓Required medication & instructions
- ✓Veterinary information
- ✓Emergency contact information
- ✓One optional familiar comfort item
And, most importantly, tell us anything you'd want to know if you were caring for your cat yourself.